Summer Boredom Busters with an Ancient Twist #Partner

***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

This summer certainly hasn't gone as planned. 

The first part, it was unseasonably cool, and we had so. much. rain. Parts of Ohio are still dealing with flood and tornado damage. Thankfully, we were spared of that. 

We have had our own emergency to deal with, though. Our main bathroom basically exploded, and we discovered we had a mold issue that needed emergency remediation, as well as a full bathroom gutting and renovation. Insurance doesn't like to cover any sort of water damage, so we're doing the work ourselves and paying out of pocket. 

To say I'm stressed and overwhelmed would be the understatement of the century.

Thankfully, I've had some help keeping the kids away from the demo work and out of the way while my husband and 19 year old do all the hard work. We've been playing some truly cool games from Thames & Kosmos that take us back to ancient times, before busted bathrooms were even a thing. I'd love to tell you more about them, so keep reading! 

​Lost Cities: Rivals
Use your cards to venture down expedition routes that take you to far-flung and mysterious corners of the Earth: to an abandoned mountain temple, a decaying circle of stone, a city sunken under the sea, an ancient Stone-Age settlement, and a town inside of a mountain. Your goal is to plan the routes in such a way that they bring you the greatest possible fame. If you are especially daring, you will also be able to wager on the success of your own expeditions. But watch out: You are not the only one traveling! Which routes will you pursue and how much gold is it worth to you? Plan well and use your resources wisely. Only the player who has collected the most fame at the end of the game will be the winner.

OUR THOUGHTS:
While this game is clearly geared towards older kids and adults, my 8 and 9 year olds got the hang of it pretty quickly. It has simple rules, and game play allows tons of strategy in a quicker game. We play a full game in about 20 minutes or so. This kind of reminds me of 2 player Solitaire, but with a twist. 

I will note, the cards are kind of flimsy. I would definitely recommend getting some plastic, protective sleeves to keep them in tip top condition, as this game will surely be enjoyed often. It's a wonderful, action packed game that doesn't require too much thought or effort. It's just fun, and sometimes, that's exactly what we're looking for. 

​I would definitely recommend! 

​RETAIL PRICE: $14.95 ◾ # OF PLAYERS: 2-4 + ◾ SUGGESTED AGE:10 and up ◾ PLAYING TIME:40 minutes    

Imhotep:
​The legendary architect of the Egyptian monuments. His awe-inspiring structures and brutal tactics earned him divine status among ancient Egyptians. Can you match his ruthless determination to build the most revered monuments? To do this, you will need to transport stone blocks on ships from your quarry to different construction sites. But you alone do not choose where the ships go. Your opponents have monumental plans of their own and want to prevent your success. A fierce competition for the precious stone resources plays out. Only with the right strategy and a little luck can you succeed.

​RETAIL PRICE: $39.95 ◾ # OF PLAYERS: 2-4 + ◾ SUGGESTED AGE:10 and up ◾ PLAYING TIME:40 minutes

​IMHOTEP: A NEW DYNASTY Expansion Pack
Construction of the Egyptian monuments continues! You have shown yourself to be worthy, and have been selected to lead future building projects. Can you prove your skill once again? In the market, there are new tools to support you in your work. Even the Egyptian gods are paying attention to your achievements! They are ready to reward you, if you are able to predict your building plans with accuracy. But if you fail, you will be punished. With new building site boards, new market cards, and much more, this expansion yields 1,024 playing variations in combination with the base game.

​RETAIL PRICE:$24.95 ◾ # OF PLAYERS:2-4 ◾  SUGGESTED AGE:10 and up  ◾ PLAYING TIME:50 minutes

OUR THOUGHTS ABOUT IMHOTEP AND THE EXPANSION PACK :

Okay, so this game is definitely for older kids and adults....Not because it's hard, but because game play can be brutal, and people may get incredibly butthurt when their plans are sabotaged. 

This is a building game that is said to take place in ancient Egypt. It's actually pretty simple to learn, and there are different variations to allow for different skill levels to play. One side is easy, one is harder. 

This game involves sailing ships, moving stones, and making sure you're the best in the desert. This means win at all costs, and play dirty. You can stop your opponents in their tracks, derail their plans, and cause someone to have a very bad day. It's actually impressive how intense such a simple game can get!

Gameplay is limited in replayability, but this is where the expansion game comes in. This will allow much more variation, and will definitely help the gameplay overall. 

This isn't a super long or drawn out game, either. We typically can play a whole game in 30-45 minutes. An hour if you count time for tantrums and hurt feelings. Still, even though it's HIGHLY competitive, we all thoroughly enjoyed it. 

I would definitely recommend this, but urge you to purchase an expansion pack along with the base game. 

Connect with Thames & Kosmos :

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